Brinkley graced the Swimsuit Issue cover in 1979, 1980 and 1981 and has appeared in the magazine eight times overall ― the last time coming in 2004.

When Sports Illustrated approached her about another go-round, Brinkley balked.

“My first thought was, ‘At my age? No way!’” she told People. “When I turned 30, I was like, ‘This is the last time I’m posing in a bathing suit!’ When this issue comes out, I’ll be 63. I thought, ‘Those days are over.’ But to get to do it with my girls, I thought, ‘One last go!’”

Brinkley said a comeback in the iconic issue stirred up old feelings. “I can get very emotional about this,” she told Sports Illustrated. “How many years ago, I was that insecure girl hoping that I would be good enough for the magazine. So to see my daughters now having the same thoughts I had, and to be able to see them actually be there on the job, was definitely a big moment.”

For more shots of Brinkley and family, visit Sports Illustrated. The 2017 Swimsuit Issue comes out on newsstands next week.